Sound recording mechanism



Filed March 1, 1926 2 sheets-sheet 1 July 21, 1931. F. voN MADALER SOUND`RECORDING MECHANI SM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 1, 1926 @InnungPatented July 21, 1931 FERDINAND VON MADALER, OF HAMPTON BAYS, NEW YORK,ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T VISIONOLA MFG. CORPORATION, OF NEWYORK, N. Y., A CORPO- RATON OF DELAWARE SOUND RECORDING MECHANISMApplication filed March 1, 1926. serial No. 91,483.

This invention relates to improvements in sound recording mechanism, andto a mechanism of this character more particularly adapted for use inrecording sounds directly on standard motion picture strips in a coldstate during the movement of the film strip through the mechanism.

-An objectof this invention is to provide a mechanism adapted :toefliciently record' sound on a standard motion picture Celluloid filmstrip in a cold state during the movement of the film strip through themechanism, and which utilizes the small space between the opening forthe sprocket teeth and the edge -of the picture surface of the film forthe sound record groove.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism for recordingthe sound on a standard motion picture film strip in the cold state inwhich in the movement of the film through the mechanism the recordingneedle is operated in a uniform manner by the sound vibrations to berecorded in the strip and provided with suitable controlling mechanismto force the needle'nto the strip during the recording operation andprevent the same from scratching the film and being vibrated forrecording undesirable vibrations of the mechanical structure of therecording mechanism.

The invention further comprehends the efficient recording of sound on astandard motion picture film strip in al cold state by impressing thesound record in the strip with the provision of suitable means forproducing a uniform operation of the strip under the sound recordingneedle by providing mechanism to rigidly hold and guide the film stripin a predetermined manner under said recording needle.

This invention further provides for the construction of a l recordingmechanism adapted to uniformly feed a film strip therethrough,preferably a standard motion picture film strip for receiving a soundrecordy from the recording-mechanism forming part ofthe device which isespecially constructed and adapted for operation with sound amplifyingmechanism and sound recording mechanisms of any desired type, preferablyelectrically operated mechanism by means of which the sound transmittedis efficiently recorded in the film strip without appreciable mechanicalnoise or the recordation of undesirable sounds.

The invention comprehends numerous other objects resulting from thedetails of construction and operation of the parts in the production ofeiiicient and clear sound records on the motion picture strip which are'more particularly pointed out in the following detailed description andclaims, directed to the preferred construction of the invention, itbeing understood however, that various changes may be made in theconstruction and relation of the parts without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention as herein set forth.

In the drawings forming part of this application:

Figure l is a side elevation of one side of the improved recordingmechanism with parts in operative position.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the opposite side of the recordingmechanism from that shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 3--3 ofFig. 1, illustrating particularly the manner of mounting and operatingthe recording stylus in carrying out this invention.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line 4 4of Fig. 3, and particularly illustrating the recording stylus structureand mounting in side elevation.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the section of film with a sound recordthereon.

A pair of supporting standards forming part of the base structure of themechanism are indicated at 1 which extend upwardly in spaced parallelrelation and support the entire mechanism in operative relation. A maindrive shaft 2 is rotatably mounted in the standards'l and provided witha shoulder at 3 having bearing contact with the inside face of one ofthe standards 1 as shown in Fig. 3 and against which it is held throughthe medium of thrust plate 4 engaging the reduced end 5 of the shafthaving bearing contact therein in order to prevent end play of the shaftand consequent lateral motion of the film passing over the sprocketroller I v construction indicated generally, by the nu-J r the pivotedend thereof carries a horizontal.

meral 6. This sprocket drive roller 6 for the filmincludes a pair ofcooperating end sections 7 and 8 respectively which are formed withsprocket teeth 9 adapted to engage in the opening of the film 10 anddrive/the same lduring the rotation of the shaft 2.

A hardened steel disk 11 is assembled between the drive roll sections 7and 8, the entire assembly forming the drive roll being held inassembled relation by suitable screw threaded rods 12. The purpose ofthe hardened steel disk will be presently pointed out.

The standards 1 are provided with upwardly extending detachable arms asindicated at 13 from one side thereof in the upper end of which ispivotally supported a roller carrying plate 14 which is recessedthroughout the central portion of one 'edge to provide a pairrof arms,and which receive the idling roller structure formed by a pair ofcooperating roller sections 16 and 17 respectively independently androtatably mounted on the shaftsection 18 in a predetermined spacedrelation. The roller sections 16 and 17 are of hollow construction asshown to provide an internal chamber indicated at 19 while shoulders `2Oformed on the shaft 18 determine Athe position of the roller sectionsagainst which they are held to prevent endwise movement. For thispurpose suitable thrust washers 21 are positioned between the ends ofthe roller sections and the arms of the plate 14. The shaft 18 ex tendsthrough openings formed in the ends of the arms o f said plate and isheld in position' by suitable set screws 22. An upright projection 23mounted on the plate adjacent arm 24 adjustably mounting theweight 25normally applying a downward pressure on the plate 14 to move the sameabout its pivot and hold the roller sections 16 and 17 firm down inengagement with the film for holding the same in a true and flatrelation on the surface of the drive roller structure 6. One end of theshaft 18 is provided with a`bore' 26 and at the 'l1-nner end of the borean' opening extends. radially through the shaft at 27 for a purposewhich will presently appear. Each of these roller sections 16 and 17 areprovided with an lar grooves 28 adapted to receive the sprgclik driveroller assembly 6 in t e operation of the device, while the section 7 isof reduced diameter at 29 to receive the annular flange 30 on the rollerassembly 6 extending from the peripheral edge of the section 8 of saidroller assembly.

The carrier plate 14 is provided with depending hangers 31 in which oneend of-the recorder supporting member 32 is pivotally mounted asindicated at 32. Thisrecorder et teeth on the the guide plate 36 mountedon the supporting arm 37 secured to one of the standards 1. Thisprovides a mounting for the recorder which will prevent lateral movementthereof as well as vibration which would cause oscillation of therecorder member and the recordation of undesirable sound in the soundrecord being recorded on the ilm strip.

The supporter recording member 32 is formed with an enlarged centralopening 38 which receives the shaft 18y and within the chamber 19 thesaid member is formed on one side thereof with a pair of spacedprojections 39 arranged in a substantially and normally horizontal planeforming bearings supports for the .recorder carrying member 40 havingthe spaced pin, bearing 41 so that the as of conoidal shape. Asupporting spring 45 of curved construction has a threaded end receivingthe nut 46 adapted to engage the projection 47 on the recordersupporting member 32 so that the tension applied to the recordercarrying member 40 maybe adjusted to a desired degree to produce auniform and efficient sound record groove in a ilm strip withoutdistortion or the recordation of mechanical sounds resulting from theoperation of the recording apparatus.

The recorder carrying member 40 is provided with an upwardly extendingarm 48 projecting through the opening27 in the shaft 18 and providedwith a laterally extending end portion 49 projecting outwardly junctionwith the recording of sound on astrip' or disk record. The operating rod48 for the recorder member together Aw-ith thelate'ral extension 49 isformed of substantially resilient material so as to permit of an axialmovement of the portion 49 without necessitating a pivotal connectionbetween the rod and the recorder member, but at the same timeefficiently transmitting sound vibrations applied thereto for thepurpose of oscillating the recorder member on the pin bearings 41 andthereby producing an oscillation of the diamond point 44 to impress awavering groove in the celluloid film strip in which the sound record isbeing made and wherein the sound record will be produced hy thehorizontal undulation in the groove formed by the diamond point in saidfilm strip.

As the character of the celluloid film strip in which the sound recordis made by this invention is of substantially tough and varyingintensity and as it is sometimes of a rather sticky nature, it has beenfound necessary to provide means to prevent the vibration of therecorder carrying member 32 and consequently the impression of waves inthe record not produced by the sound, but by the oscillation of theplate caused by the unevenness and stickiness of the material of thefilm strip. For this purpose a pair of pins eX- tend from opposite sidesof the projection 34 of the plate 32 as indicated at 51 over which isengaged the bifurcated hook pin of a head 52 to the lower end of whichis pivotally connected a lever 53 pivotally mounted in the supportingarm 37 by means of the transverse pin 53 and having a substantially longarm 54 carrying the adjustable weight 55 thereon.

This lever structure 53 with the weight 55 has a substantially differentperiod of vibration than that of the recorder mounting member 32 and inbeing engaged with the pin 51 on the free end portion of said plate 32,the vihation tendencies of the recorder plate will be transmitted to thelever 53 and in view of the different period of vibration of said lever,the vibrations of the recorder member 32 will be absorbed by the lever.In this way, the recorder member will be prevented from vibrating inresponse to the variations in consistency of the film strip and practicehas shown that the recording needle or stylus will be moved over thefilm strip for forming a sound record groove and recording sound in saidgroove in a uniform even manner and thereby produce a clear andundistorted record of the sounds applied thereto.

A suitable guide for the film is illustrated at 56 for guiding said filmonto the guide sprocket rolls 6 from the reel housing 57 while suitableidler rollers 58 and 59 serve to guide the film as it leaves therecording lmechanism and to retain the same on the periphery of thedrive roll for a sufficient distance to maintain the sprocket teeth indriving engagement with the film. The film is wound in any suitablemanner on a suitable reel contained within the housing 60.

An L-shaped arm 61 is attached to one edge of the plate 14 as shown inFig. 2 and extends forwardly and downwardly and terminates in closeproximity to the upper end of one side of one of the standards 1. Thelower end of the L-shaped arm 61 carries a manually operable hand lever62 having a cam hook 63 thereon which is adapted for engagement with theupper end of the standard l so that in the position shown in dottedlines in Fig. 2, the cam will operate the arm 61 and move the carrierplate 14 on its pivot to raise the roller structure. The other elementscarried by said arm include the recording stylus carried above the driveroller assembly 6 and the film thereon so that the film may be fed intothe machine in a convenient manner and also to prevent the recorder fromengaging and forming the sound groove in the film.

In the operation of this recording mechanism, a standard moving picturefilm is used as shown in Fig. 5 which includes a series of picturesquares 65 positioned in the central portion throughout the length ofthe film 66 while the edge portion is formed with the vusual series ofopenings 67 for receiving the sprocket teeth for the driving sprocketfor the film. The picture squares 65 are always substantially largerthan the actual projected'portion of the picture in view of the factthat the opening in the film gate is always smaller in size than thesize of the picture squares. In addition, there is aslight ,spacebetween the edges of the picture squares and the edge portion of' thefilm provided with the openings 67 which does not come in contact withthe mechanism for driving and retaining the film in passing through amotion picture projector, and which face is used by the presentinvention for receiving the sound record on the celluloid side of thefilm which is the back side, so that it will not be projected throughthe opening in thefilm gate in the projection of the pictures and alsowill i be free of engagement with the driving apparatus for the film. Inthis way a sound record canl be placed on a standard motion picture filmwhich will not be affected or damaged in the use, of the film. The soundgroove is indicated in Fig. 5 by the numeral 68. The film is fed fromthe reel within the housing 57 through the film guide 56 and between theguide roll 6 and the idler roller sections 16 and 17 respectively in themanner as illustrated in Fig. 4.

The film is held in contact with the surface of the drive roll 6 untilit passes under the idler 58. The fil'm then extends over the idlerroller 59y and is drawn into the casing 60 for winding on a suitablereel.

After the film is fed through the recording i' device as just described,during which time the lever 62 is in the full line position of Fig.

2, thelever 62 isithen operated to permit the f roller sections 16 and17 to be lowered into engagement with the film as indicated at 10 inFig. 3 which will also permit the recording point 44 to engage the filmin a free manner for recording sound waves therein. The Weight of theroller sections 16 and 17 in addition to the weight of the carrier plate14 v and the force applied thereto through the Weight on the arm 24 willserve to force the lm down into intimate contact with the for receivingthe record of the sound waves during the operation of the recordermember'thereby. I t The -driver roller 6 as well as the roll secy tions16 and 17 in assembled relation are of such construction that the facesthereof engaging the film' are of a width slightly less than that of thefilm so that in the passage of said film between the said rollers, oneedge portion thereof will project beyond the ends of each of the rollerstructures. A bracket 69 is mounted on one of the standards 1 as shownin'Figs. 2 and 3, which is provided with a recess 70 slidably receivingthe plunger 71 having the disk thereon indicated at 72 which isprojected by the spring 73 outwardly frpm the bracket and toward theends of the rollers 6 and 16 for engagement with the edge of the movingpicture film in order to hold the same against lateral motion betweenthe rollers and in engagement with theflange 30 of the drive roll G.

By the construction of the recorder mechanism as above described, itshould be clearly understood thatthe rolls 16 and 17 as well as thesprocket roller 6 are held against end movement in the standard 1 aswell as relative to each other bythe provision of suitable structuralelements to prevent end play in the structure. It will also be clearthat the film in beingpassed between 'the rolls is held in a fiat mannerand also prevented .from moving laterally relative tothe faces of therollers in order-that the sound record may be impressed an`d formed -inthe moving picture strip in a most efficient manner and without therecording of mechanical or other undesirable vibrations. v

The construction of the recording mechanism is of such acharacter thatthe point of engagement of the diamond point 44: with the motion picturefilm will be in the same transverse alinement with the point ofengagement of the roller sections 16- and 17 with the film and the pointat which the film is held in intimate contact with the surface of thedrive roll 6, so that it may not warp, twist, or have any lateralmovement under the recording stylus. rlhe construction therefore, guidesthe film at the point of engagement of the recorder therewith in apredetermined mannerso that an efficient and clear sound record may bemade in the film. v

As pointed out above, a hardened steel disk 11 is mounted between thedrive roll sections 6 and 8 and the peripheral surface thereof coincideswith the surface of the roll section 7. Itwill be noted that in Fig. 3the hardened steel disk is in alignment with the recording stylus, thusproviding a very regular and hardened surface beneath v.the ilm duringthe recording operation. The roll sections 7 and 8 are necessarily madeof soft material to permit the cutting of the sprocket teeth therein butthis material may be subject to warping and twisting such as wouldinterfere with proper recording of sound. Certainly if the rollsections, 6, 7 and 8 were hardened after the teeth were cut -there wouldbe such warping and shrinkage of the sections and sprocket teeth as tointerfere with the proper running of the lmthrough the recorder. Thearrangement provided byapplicant with the hardened steel disk 1'1overcomes these difficulties.

The particular construction of this mechanism will eliminate the noisescaused by vibration of the mechanical parts of the device andit has beenfound from actual experience, that a very clear sound record is producedin the lIn. i/ l Having thus described I claim as new is 1 A mechanismfor recording sound on a strip, comprising, in combination, a supportfor the strip having a supporting surface adapted to 4travel with thestrip throughout a predetermined zone, and adapted for enmy invention,what gagement bya recording mechanism operable to engage said stripwithin said predetermined zone, and means. cooperating with said supportfor guiding the strip in a predetermined path, including a guideyieldably engaging one edgeof the strip for retaining with throughout apredetermined Zonev in sound recording position with4 a sound recordingmechanism having a needle, adapted for engagement with said strip, androtatable means for cooperation with said rotatable support adapted toengage the film in the zone of engagement with said support, and toretain said film in intimate bearing contact with said support adjacentthe point of engagement of the recording needle with said strip andincluding a rigid guide carried by said rotatable support forming anabutment for one edge of the strip and a yieldable guide engageable withthe opposite edge thereof anism having a recording needle operable toengage said film strip at the point of engagement thereof with saidsupport, and means substantially encircling said recording mechanism forengagement with said strip adapted to retain the same in engagement withsaid support and said recording mechamsm.

4. A mechanism for recording sound on astrip, a cylindrical supportingmember for the strip mounted for rotative movement, with the striparranged on a. portion of the surface thereof in traveling movementthereover, whereby to support the strip in sound recording position witha recording mechanism having a recording needle operable to engage saidfilm strip at the point of engagement of said strip with said support,and means encircling said recording mechanism for engagement with saidstrip adapted to retain the same in predetermined relation with saidsupport and said recording mechanism, and cooperating means adapted toguide said film strip on said supportin its movement thereover forretaining said strip in engagement with said support.

5. A mechanism for recording sound on a strip, comprising a support forthe strip permittingmovement of the strip over said support, whereby toarrange the strip in sound recording position with a recording mechanismhaving a recording needle adapted for engagement with said strip on saidsupport, and gravity actuated means' attached-'to said recordingmechanism operable to substantially eliminate and absorb mechanicalvib-rations impressed on said recording mechanism and prevent therecordation thereof onsaid strip.

6. A mechanism for recording sound on a strip comprising a support forthe strip permitting movement of the strip over said support, whereby toarrange the strip in sound recordingposition with a recording mechanismhaving a recording needle adapted for engagement with said strip on saidsupport, means attached to said recording mechanism operable toeliminate and absorb mechanical vibrations impressed on said recordingmechanism and prevent the recordation thereof on said strip, and meansrencircling said recording mechanism for maintaining said strip inuniform engagement with said support in the zone of said recordingneedle.

7. In a mounting for a sound recording mechanism for strip materialcomprising a support having means for feeding and guiding the materialto receive a sound impression, a. recording mechanism supporting memberpivotally mounted on said support, means carried thereby for attachingthe reI cording mechanism for oscillatory movement thereof t ansverselyto the path of travel of the strip and means for retaining thesupporting member against transverse movement.

8. In a mounting for sound recording mechanism for strip materialcomprising a support having means for feeding and guiding the materialto receive the sound impressions, a recording mechanism supportingmember pivotally mounted on said support, means carried thereby forattaching the recording mechanism for oscillatory movement thereoftransversely to the path of travel of the strip, means for retaining thesupporting member against transverse movement and' means arranged at thefree end of said member yieldably permitting vertical movement thereof.

9. In a mounting for a sound recording mechanism for strip materialcomprising a suppport having means for feeding and guidingthe materialto receive the sound impressions, a recording mechanism supportingmember pivotally mounted on said support, means carried thereby forattaching the recording mechanism for oscillatory movement thereoftransversely to the path of travel of the strip, guide means engagingthe free end of said member preventing transverse movement thereof andan adjustable weightcarried by said free end of the member yieldablyrestraining the same against upward move-` ment.

l0. Mechanism for impressing a sound record in celluloid or likesubstance comprising, in combination, a support for the celluloidrecord, a recording member adapted to be actuated from a sound vibratedmember, means for moving the celluloid record and recording memberrelatively, and means for preventing mechanical vibrations other thanthe sound vibrations from affecting the sound record to an extent thatwill impair the sound record.

l1. Mechanism for impressing a sound rec- Ordin celluloid comprising, incombination, a support for the celluloid record, a recording memberadapted to be actuated from a sound vibrator-yV member, means for movingthe celluloid record and recording member relatively,.and means forautomatically compensating for variations in the consistency ofuniformity of the celluloid record.

12. Mechanism for impressing a sound record in celluloid comprising, incombination, a support for the celluloid record, a recording memberadapted to be actuated from a sound vibratory member, means for movingthe celluloid record and recording member relatively, a support for therecording member permitting movement thereof transverse to l the path ofrelative movement between record and recording member, and a resilientcolinction between the sound Vibrated membe a d the recording member.

13. A mechanlsm for recording sound on strip\s of material, saidmechanism com'prising a support, means carried thereby for feeding andguiding a strip of material, a recording mechanism, a member pivotallymounted on said support and carrying the recording mechanism, therecording mechanism bein mounted to oscillate in a direction transversey to the path of travel of the strip, and-sound vibrated means foractuating the recording mechanism.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature.

FERDINAND voN MADALER.

